Blizzard Says Diablo 3 Will Not End the Diablo Franchise

Sequel will round out initial trilogy, but developer has more games in mind.

During the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational in Paris, France in June, Diablo 3 lead designer Jay Wilson, speaking with MTV Multiplayer, stated what might possibly be the least needed confirmation in video game history: Blizzard has plans and ideas for Diablo games beyond the upcoming third installment. Wilson was responding to the claim that Diablo 3 would round out the Diablo series as a trilogy:

"We're not saying this is the end of the Diablo universe, but we are trying to bring this storyline to a close. It's not just Diablo III -- we've got plans beyond."

Wilson also commented on some of the character options the upcoming sequel would deliver. He maintained that while the game continues the story of the previous two, not every character class would be returning. This is in keeping with the trend set with the changes of classes between the original Diablo and its sequel, but Wilson hinted that some classic options from the first game might even return to the field of battle.

"We also tried to focus a little more on bringing characters back, and not just from Diablo II but from Diablo I. We feel like a lot of the focus is on Diablo II but Diablo I started it all and has a lot of really good stuff on the gameplay side and on the character side. So people can expect to see characters from Diablo I, more characters from Diablo II, and characters from some of the books. We're definitely going to bring a few of them in."

Is this good news for folks yearning to play as the Rogue or Warrior classes again? I guess we'll have to wait for Blizzard to begin doling out details in the future. The game still has Blizzard's usual release date: when its done.

Comments (12)

On the Warrior Class...

Haha I've played both Diablo 1 & 2, and being a completist, I favor the first over the second (if you've played them you'll see why). The Warrior, in my opinion, is the most hardass character I've played in either game (he doesn't need to wield two weapons to be hardcore =P he pulls it off with just one). He HAS TO make a return in Diablo III! The guy is way too symbolic in Diablo, and Blizzard has a tendency of giving fans what they want.

Check out this part of a review for the first Diablo (pure nostalgia, I can relate ;]):

"I encountered Diablo in the midst of a years-long hiatus from gaming of any kind, when my only PC was a work-issued laptop that I eventually began smuggling home for clandestine dungeon-clearing sessions that lasted 'til the hours of the morning. It was the first game to ever give me carpal tunnel syndrome. Who can forget their initial foray into the dungeon beneath Tristram's chapel, as their avatar solemnly proclaimed "The sanctity of this place has been befouled"? Ten years later, and I can still perfectly remember the whoosh of my warrior's sword, the crack and crumble of skeletal remains, and the glorious ringing as gold hit the floor." ...Hell yeah bro ;]

The Warrior is a Barbarian who's not obsessed with brute-force. He's about a combination of skill, intellect and strength, not just pure strength. His symbol is the sword, not the axe. He's a... warrior with a little bit of the other stuff as well, which makes for a perfect character, the default. He has to be back.

"I search of soals in seeking answears"

Not sure if the quote is one hundred percent perfect (could never
tell in D1) but maybe the witch will make a return! Certainly
since Wart parted with his leg, and poor Griswald (most fav D1 guy
really) was demonified.

these comments need edit buttons

haha fool

the last diablo game(expansion) released was way back in 2001, i dont
think 7-8 years of releasing another diablo game wouldnt be considered
"fast". and have you ever heard of the World of Warcraft?
that game has over 10 million subscribers, i think i can speak for
everyone else and say that blizzard is doing pretty good

Warrior Return?

I dont think the Warrior will make a return because Isnt he the one
who stabs himself in the head with the Ruby at the end of Diablo 1 to
become the new Diablo?....I havent finished Diablo 2 yet so Im not
sure if this is still the case

I would hope so...

It better not be the end of the Diablo franchise cause I would be
pissed considering that it is the ONLY Blizzard franchise that I
consider myself a fan of... That being said if Diablo III is
said to end the story arc then thats cool too since stretching it
out too much can make it redundant and less interesting...

What I would really like for them to do with a Diablo 4 for example
is bring the camera back a little bit (Think Knights of the Old
Republic) and of course the obvious graphic tech that looks good for
when it is released. Also it would be nice if the world was a little
bigger because even though I loved part 1 & 2 Diablo maps
tend to be a little on the small side... I don't want
Oblivion sized levels (though I wouldn't mind) but atleast making
"zones" a little bigger.

Either way I'm really excited for D3 and its gonna be the first PC
game I am hyped for since the Never Winter Nights.